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JSU Student Develops Weather Alert Device for Hearing-Impaired Population |
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Abby Knight JSU News Bureau JACKSONVILLE -- August 22, 2002 -- Jim Davis, a Jacksonville State University distance learning student who lives in Virginia, has come up with an idea to help hearing-impaired people get weather alerts and other emergency messages even if they're asleep. Davis, who first described his idea in a term paper he wrote for his emergency management course through JSU's on-line program, developed a device that converts existing NOAA-type (National Ocean and Atmosphere Association) weather alerts into lighted, vibrating signals, which warn hearing-impaired citizens of impending weather hazards. Davis, emergency manager/coordinator for Pittsylvania County in Virginia, contacted a radio manufacturer who was producing a color-coded LCD screen. On the monitor during a weather emergency, the type and level of emergency is described in text. The word "tornado" appears with a red signal that indicates a warning; yellow means tornado watch, and green means advisory. Davis added an output jack that comes with the unit and enables users to connect a flashing strobe light and a pillow vibrator, which is manufactured by the same company. Each unit can be programmed for a specific locality. Davis developed the idea while taking a JSU class called �Populations at Risk� taught by Dr. Brenda Phillips through the Institute of Emergency Preparedness. �Dr. Phillips wanted me to focus on not just the recognition (of vulnerabilities of certain populations) but on how to help them improve their quality of life before, during and after a disaster,� Davis said. In a partnership with the Danville (Virginia) Department of Emergency Management and the hearing-impaired coordinator at nearby Danville Community College, Davis was able to purchase the modified radios for nearly three dozen hearing-impaired residents in the Danville Metropolitan area. Davis said he hopes other localities will form partnerships to recognize and help those who are at risk. |
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